Highway-rail vehicle



' Nov. 17, 1936. J, H, DAIR 2,061,298

HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE Filed Oct.v 15, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1936. J. H. ADAIR .HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE Filed 001,. 13, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 MQSQ KQ Filed Oct. 13, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 17, 1936.

J; H. ADAIR HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE Filed Oct. 13, 1933 8 Sheet-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Nov. 17, 1936. H, ADNR 2,061,298

HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE Filed Oct. 13, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

NOV. 17, J. ADAlR HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE Filed Oct. 13, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet s M v I MQXWQ NOV. 17,1936. H, ADAIR HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 13, 1935 l lllj ll IILIL I I I av. 1 H ADAlR HIGHWAY RAIL VEHICLE Filed Oct. 13, 1933 8 Sheets-Sheet-B ATTORNEY.

f r 1 ll e i 60 a7 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIGHWAY-RAIL VEHICLE John Hugh Adair, Amarillo, Tex. Application October 13, 1933, Serial No. 693,469

16 Claims. (Cl. 105-215) My invention relates to the running gear or wheel structure of a vehicle whereby the latter is adapted to run on the present type of railroad tracks and within a brief period of time adapted to travel on highways or streets; the invention contemplating means whereby a speedy and easy conversion from the railroad track wheel to the highway rubber tired wheel may be mechanically or hydraulically accomplished.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable vehicle or truck with track or flanged wheels, secured to the axles and one of the latter provided with the usualgeared differential drive; the track or flanged wheels being adapted to have highway or rubber tired wheels quickly applied thereto; the wheels ,on the other axles being controllable by steering mechanism as usual with highway trucks or motor driven vehicles.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a truck with my improved wheel structure and con trol mechanism which will enable a railroad to provide a commodity or merchandise pick-up and delivery service comparable to that furnished by the highway motor truck and in certain respects superior thereto.

The objects and advantages otmy invention I will be readily comprehended from the following description of the accompanying drawings wherein g Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved track wheel and mounting with a portion of one of the axles shown in full lines. V

Figure 2 is an outside elevation of the wheel. with a portion broken away.

Figure 3 is a side'elevation of a segmental portion of the toothed-gear secured to the outer side of the trackwheel.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a gear tooth in side elevation asviewed on the line A-A of Figure 3.'

Figure is a sectional elevation of my improved truck or rubber-tired wheeland control mechanism.

, Figure 5 is a side elevation as viewed from the left in Figure '1, with the upper half of the wheel broken away,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the controlling or lever mechanism as viewed from the right of Figure 4; the upper portion being broken away and the inoperative position of the mechanism shown in dotted lines.

1 Figure 7 is a sectional view of both track and highway wheels in interlocked position and the controlling mechanism in released position; a

portion or said control mechanism being in elevation.

Figure 8 is a similar view with the controlling mechanism in its inoperative position; the figure also illustrating means whereby to gauge the 5 aligning position of the highway wheel with the track wheel during applying operation.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the-track and highway wheel interlocking means and a, portion of the controlling mech- 10 anism.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the highway wheel hub as shown in Figure 8, with the track-wheel omitted.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the dummy drums for holding a disconnected highway wheel.

Figure 12 is an assembly of one wheel and wheel control unit more or less schematically illustrated; a highway wheel being mounted on a dummy drum, the wheel and a portion of the control mechanism, as well as the track wheel being shown in section, while the highway wheel applying position of the control mechanism is shown in dotted lines.

Figure 13 schematically illustrates the cylinder arrangement and valve mechanism; certain portions being in section.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view of one of the pressure medium control valves.

Figure 15 is a similar view illustrating a. different position of the rotatable disc valve.

Figure-16 is a view substantially taken on the line lE-IB of Fi ure 15.

My invention has for its object the provision of a running gear or wheel structure whereby a suitable'vehicle or truck, which preferably has its own motive power, may employ the tracks of a railroad in the transportation of merchandise and the same vehicle or truck, upon arrival at 40 its terminal or station, employ the highways or municipal streets in its pick-up and delivery service; the transition from a railroad or track vehicle to a highway vehicle, and vice versa, being quickly accomplished through operation of mechits correlated controlling mechanisms have been g'ear carrying side; the extended hub 5 being provided with a slot 5A.

shown and will be described. Figure 1 illustrates my improved mechanism for use on a railroad track through the use of a railroad wheel provided with'the usual fiangeor wheelgguard l and tread 2. a

The outer sides of the wheel are provided with a gear ring 4 having suitable teeth 3; the gearring I being preferably removably secured to the wheel, as by means of bolts as at 8, to permit easy removal in the event of repairs. The wheel is provided with an extended hub-5 on its outer and l represents the brake drum preferably operatively associated with the wheel. The wheels are mounted on proper axles as at I, and'those con- 'stituting the driving wheels must be non-rotatably secured to the driving axles so as to revolve therewith; or suitable. power transmitting mechanism may be directly associated with wheels; but as this part of the mechanism forms no part of my invention, and as it'may be of any of the well known types, it has not been illus- 'tra'ted.

- The track wheel I, 2 is intended to remain in place on the axle I and thereforethe outer end a of the axle isshown provided with a suitable nut and lock washer as at 6.

The extended mm 5 is" inte iided to receive a highway wheel when the truck reached the end of its track run or point where the 131101;

- is to be used on the highway.

The highway wheel and the controlling mechae 1 nism are shown in Figures 4 and .5; the wheel I! 7 being shown provided with a pneumatic tire as at T. I The tire may be of the conventional type and be secured on wheel l2 inany of the well known methods employed and the more or less schematic illustration is believed ample as the method of securing the tire on the wheel plays no part in my Invention. e

The wheel l2, on what constitutes the truck side, is provided with a'ring gear I I, substantially similar to gear 4 and the teeth "I of gear II are intended to mesh with the teeth! of gear 4 when the highway wheel II has been put into place on the extended hub 5 of the track wheel. The hub of the wheel I2 is shown internally tapered to correspond with and to receive the extended hub 5 of the track wheel shown in Figure 1.

The highway wheel I2 is. provided with a suitable number of radially disposed pins-as at 91' and 8* (see Figure 4) arranged intermediate of the rim and the hub of the wheel; the hub being provided with openings therethrough, into which the inner ends of the pins extend; the pinsbeing freely movable through their respective openings, as clearly shown in Figure 10. i

These pins 9, 9 are preferably longer than the distance between the hub and the rim portion of the wheels I! in order that theymay at all times have positive sliding relation with the hub I and rim of the wheel. The rim, at points 'coin- 'cident with the outer ends of the pinse, 9 is provided with a recess or continuous slot, as shown at IS in Figures 4 and 10, into which the pinsmay be depressed. The depth of theslot I5 is such that the inner ends of the pins '9, 9 m y be completely retracted into the hub wall as shown in Figure 4. The pins 9, 9 are of similar construction, namely the construction more clearly shown in Figure 10 and are normally forced radially inward by coil springs iii; a coil spring l6 being disposed about each pin with the ends of the spring preferably seated on washers 21 and 28.-

Each pin is controlled bya pivoted lever which is adapted to force the pin toward the wheelrim against the action of the spring. That is to say, pin 9 is controlled by lever 18, while pin 9 is controlled by lever l8, and as these elements in eachinstance are similar, the description of one, for example pin 9 and lever 18, shown in Figure 10, will suiiice. The lever I8 is shown bifurcated and yieldingly connected at one endto the pin 9 (see Figure 9); the spring 16 being arranged under compression intermediate of the lever l8 and the rim of the wheel so as to normally tend to force the end of the pin into the bore of the hub of wheel I2, as shownin Figure 10.

The lever i8 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends, as at on a portion of wheel II, or on -a suitable post I4 fixedly secured to the wheel. If desired, the levers l8, l8 may be pivotally secured to the reenforcing webs disposed between hub and rim of the wheel and shown at 26. r

The free ends of the levers l8, I8 extend a predetermined distance beyond the outer side of the wheel II, with the outer ends preferably flared or enlarged as shown more clearly. in Figure 9.

The pins'e i as shown in Figures '7 and 10, are intended to enter the grooves 5A in the extended hubs of the rail or track wheels I, 2; the pins constituting the means whereby the two wheels, namely the track wheel and the highway wheel, are held in operative relation with theirgears 34 and ill-Ilia meshing engagement .and power from the track wheels I, 2, transmit- In view of road crossings, switches, frogs and a other appurtenances adjacent to the tracks, it

- is necessary to have the highway wheels quickly removable. It is also essential to provide means whereby the removal and re-application of these highway wheels can be mechanically or hydraulically accomplished without undue effort on the part of theoperator; namely through the use of mechanism operable from the drivers cab and whereby the mounting and demounting of the wheels may be accomplished in a very brief period of time, without need of manual labor; the nephanism being intended to be operated by power derived from the truck operating mecha-.

As any suitable power medium may be em plcyed for operating the wheel mounting and demounting mechanism, I merely make a more or less schematic illustration of. a pair of cylinders which'may be either hydraulic or pneumatic; the pin-lever control mechanism being shown controlled by cylinder C provided with piston P;

while the wheel applying and withdrawing mechanism is controlled by cylinder CI provided with piston PI (see Figures 4, '7 and 8); the cylinder C to be suitably mounted so it, with the piston, may be laterally shifted toward the truck axles as shown in Figures 4 and 7, or away from the truck axles, as shown in Figure 8.

The piston P is provided with an extension which terminates in an angularly disposed portion or lever I9 which preferably terminates in the laterally enlarged hook-shape end'as shown in Figure .9. v

This lever portion I3 is intended to engage with the laterally enlarged and somewhat hookshape end of the pin controlling lever I8, see Figure 9. It will be understood that the free ends of the levers I8 and I 8 are similar in construce tion, the hook ends being disposed radially outward; while the outer or hook-end of lever I 9 (and corresponding levers later referred to) is to extend in a direction opposite to that of lever l8 so as to form interlocking engagement therewith when the control mechanism isv actuated and moved into proper position.

Piston PI, of cylinder CI, slidably holds a vertically disposed extension or rod 24 of predetermined length and this rod has a drum member 28 secured thereto. This drum member provides means for mounting levers 22- and 22*, whereby the hook-shaped levers I9 and I9? are controlled and which latter mentioned levers, like lever I9, are each adapted to engage with a pin controlling lever I 8 when piston P has been properly actuated.

Plvotally secured at V on piston P is link 23 whose lower end is pivotally secured at W to one end of bell-crank lever H which is pivoted at X on the rear of the drum; the other end of lever 2| being pivotally secured at Y to lever 22 which is secured to one end of lever I9; the inoperative positions of the wheel releasing and holding levers being shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, while the operative .and wheel holding positions of the levers i9, I9 I9 are shown in full lines in close proximity to the perimeter of the drum 28.

The drum 20 also provides a stop for the radial movement of the pin releasing levers I8, I8 and prevents the bending of the latter in the event of too much pressure being applied to piston P. Piston P simultaneously operates the levers l9, I9 and Ill and causes the latter and levers I8, I 8 to be drawn toward each other and therefore toward the drum. Furthermore, the drum 20 acts as a reenforcement for the outer ends of the levers I8, I8 which, together with levers IS, IS and Ill carry the wheel I2 when it is detached from the hub of the track wheel; that is to say, levers I 8, I8 and I9, I9 and I9 are'intended to hold the wheel I2 in suspended position after it has been detached from the track wheel, as shown in Figure 4, at least during application and withdrawal operations.

It will be-understood that similar wheel controlling mechanism is arranged for each wheel in any suitable manner on the truck and the respective cylinders would have communication with any suitable supply of air or fluid under pressurearranged at the control of the driver. The object of the invention is that the wheel changing operation is to be entirely automatically or mechanically accomplishedwhlle the truck or vehicle is on the track so as to avoid time and labor and the necessity of jacking up the vehicle.

The object of my invention is to provide a vehicle or truck which may be quickly adapted to be used in city streets in its pick up and delivery service, at which time the rubber tired wheels I! are employed.

When this service has been performed, the 4 truck is again driven to place where the track wheels I--2 will,engage with the railroad tracks and the truck operated at high speed on the railroad tracks between towns. In order to convert the truck from a street or highway type to the railroad track type, the wheel control mechanism is brought into operation so as to moveit from the position shown in Figure 8 into the position shown in Figure 7, where the piston controlled levers I9, I9, I 9 are about to engage with the pin controlling levers I8, I8 I8"; en-

gagement of the levers being induced by upward movement of the piston P in cylinder C, which causes the wide or enlarged hook ends of these levers to interengage. This causes levers I8, I8,

l8 to depress the spring controlled pins 8 and 9 out of the groove 5 in the extended hub of the track wheel, so that when piston PI in cylin dcr CI is forced outwardly the mechanism will be in the position shown in Figure 8, except that the highway wheel I2 will be suspended thereon and it also has rod 24 whereby the drum 20 is supported in place.

This rod'is shown provided with a supporting bar 34 and reenforc'ing member 36; the end of bar 34 having a roller 35 which is adapted to ride on suitable supports, as indicated in Figure 7, on 33, 32 and SI; the latter being shown secured to the non-rotating disc portion of'brake drum D. Guide bar 34 also acts as'a gauge rod to prohibit the lifting mechanism from going down too far; the frame member 33 maintaining a fixed position relative to the wheel axle regardless of the'extent to which the truck springs may have been compressed. At 39, 48, 4|, I show a frame which may be secured to the truck side and may consist of a pair of similar frame members arranged in parallel relation, as shown in Figure 5. so as to pcrmit the cylinder C to pass thcrebetween; the opposite sides of the cylinder being shown provided with rollers 43, 43 which are adapted to travel on the lower frame members GI and II, which are shown in the nature of angle bars.

When thehighway wheels are not in use, it is the purpose of my invention that these wheels be held completely out of the way where contact with equipment along the right-of-way is impossible; and at the same time it would be advisable to support these wheels by means other than the piston controlled mechanism heretofore described. I, therefore, propose mounting wheel supporting members at suitable places on the sides of the truck body as seen in Figure 12, where the highway wheel is shown placed onto the sup- V porting member which is exemplified in the nature of a two-part spindle 48, 48 shown in Fi ure 11; one end of each part being flanged as at 44, and having bolt-holes as at and 45.

This two-part spindle is provided with the circumferential groove 46 which is adapted to receive the ends of the spring controlled pins 9,, 9, as shown in Figure 12. The spindle is shown as wherebythe highway wheels are automatically locked in said relation; meansior operatively'connectlng the rail wheels andfhighway wheel's; con- .jtractible gripping means. adapted torelease said and out of said operative position; and power op- 1 erated means for controlling said last means.

2. A vehicle of the character described provided with rail wheels having outwardly extended manently secured track wheels, highway wheels adapted to-move bodily into and out of parallel operative relation with the track wheels; vertically movable locking pins carried by the high- 5. preferably composed of two' parts 48, 48 spaced hubs; highway wheels adapted to slide onto said 5 apart as shown in order to permit free travel of extended hubs and of diameter larger than the the gauge rods 34, during the lowering and raisdiameter of the rail wheels; means whereby the ing of the wheels. highway wheels are automatically locked on said In Figures 13 to 16, I have more or less schemathub-extensions; means whereby operative drivl0 ically illustrated an arrangement of compressed ing connection between the wheels is established; air or hydraulically operated mechanism adapted means carried by the vehicle and movable vertifor the purpose; the mechanism being connected cally and laterally, said means being adapted to with some suitable source of air or fluid under release said first mentioned means and to convey pressure by means of conduit 1 which leads to the the released highway wheel out of operative rela- 15 valve housing 53 which is provided with a partition; and a controllable pressure medium supply 15 tion 52 arranged in spaced relation with the-botfor actuating said wheelreleasing and conveying tom of the shell and therefore above the inlet 1. means. A

The partition is shown with spaced apart ports 5|. 3. In a vehicle of the character described pro-'- 1 whereby the pressure medium is admitted to the vided with track wheels, at least certain of which upper chamber 50,'in which a disc valve R is ro aresecured to the axles of the vehicle so as to 20 tatably mounted on the partition and controlled rotate'with the axles, all of said wheels having by handle H. The partition is provided with outwardly extended hubs; highway wheels havtubes 55 and 56 and with tubes E. ing hubs adapted to fit onto the hubs of the track It will be understood that a similar valve is inwheels and effect interengaging relation theretended in conjunction with each cylinder C and with; means whereby the highway wheels are 25 Cl {and the tube 55 of each valve is connected automatically locked to the track wheels; preswith conduit 55 extending to one end of-the cylsure medium operated pistons secured to the veindefwhile the tube 55 connects with the conhicle body and provided with radially movable duit 56 connected with the other end of the cylelements adapted to engage said first means-and inder. The disc'R is provided withprearranged to carry, the highway wheels into and out of 30 ports as at 60, 62, 63 and 64' whereby the presposition, said pistons being vertically disposed to sure medium may be selectively admitted to opp0--1- move vertically and being arranged to be moved site ends of the cylinders and exhaustion from laterally, nd means hereby the lateral moves either end permitted. J ment of'the pistons iseflfected. v a

For example, when ports 52 and .60 register with 4. In a vehicle of the character described hav- 35' the tubes 55, 55, the pressure medium will pass ing axles provided with track wheels, said wheels into both conduits 55' and 58 and provide equal having outwardly extended hubs; highway wheels pressure on opposite sides of the piston-head. having hubs adapted to fit onto the hubs of the Th ports are so arranged that when the valve track wheels and effect interengaging relation 40 is turned counterclockwise so that port 59 (see. therewith; means whereby the highway wheels 40 Figure 16) registers with tube 55, port 54 will are automatically locked to the track wheelsp register with tube 56 and with an exhaust tube pressure medium receiving cylinders mounted n E; and when port BI is brought .to register with the vehicle, adapted to travel laterally, and pro-- tube 55, port 53 will-register with tube and vided with vertically movable pistons; a wheelreverse the operation of the piston; while at any hub receiving drum movable with each piston and intermediate positions the medium how is cut provided with radially movable elements conoil from conduits 55 and 58'. trolled bysaid pistons and adapted to engage said The valve mechanism just described illusfirst mentioned means and to carry the highway;

trates an arrangement that could be employed, wheels into and t p on; m a wh y but various methods or other suitable valves may sai cylind r n he p s sa moved 4 50 be employed: the specific type of valve and arorally; and means wherebythe downward moverangement not being claimed .as a part or this ment of the pistons is controlled by the spaced invention which involves suitable track wheels relation between the vehicle body.. and the axles. and highway wheels adapted tobe placed in sup- 5. 'In a vehicleof the character described, per,- 3

porting position orin operative relation with the manentl'ysecured track wheels; highway wheels track wheels, together with power controlled adaptedjto move bodily into andout ofparallel mechanism whereby the highway wheels will be relation with the track wheels; spring controlledautomatically put into and out 'or operative relalocking means carried by the highway wheels tion with the track-wheels or thecar or truck, whe e y t e w y wheels are automatically so with means associated with-the hubs or the'wheels locked in operative position, said means involvwhereby the two wheels will be automatically -;-ing laterally disposed pivoted levers; contractible locked together; It will be understood, theremeans adapted to engage said pivoted levers and tore, that 1 dental: intend to limit the invention to m ve aid locking means t o locking po ito the specific viform disclosed as the invention tion and to carry the highway wheels'outof the 55 mayhave expressionfin somewhat diflerent iform. operative relation with the track wheels; pres- What'I claim is: v sure medium operated means for actuating the 1. In a vehicle of the de'3grlbed,rafl contractible means and to move the same vertiwheels; highway wheels adapted to be moved 111- calls; and means wh r y t pressure. m um to parallel and operative relation with the rail operated means y b moved laterallywheels; means carried by th highway wh els 6. In a vehicle of the character described, perand-to" the highway wheels into way wheels whereby said wheels are locked in opmeans whereby the two wheels will revolve toonto the extended hubs and effect interlocking relation with the track wheels, spring controlled locking pins carried by the highway wheels adapted to engage with the extended hubs and thereby lock the highway wheels in operative position, tiltable means carried by the highway wheels and having controlling relation with the locking pins whereby the latter are moved out of locking position when said tiltable means are actuated; and power actuated means adapted to engage with the tiltable means to actuate the latter and to efiect highway wheel carrying rela-v tion.

8. A highway-rail vehicle comprising, in combination with the body and its running gear, track wheels provided with extended hubs; highway wheels provided with hubs adapted to telescope with the hubs of the track wheels; interengaging gether; locking means whereby the two wheels are held-in juxtaposed position and the highway wheel locked against lateral movement; levers pivotally mounted in the hubs of the highway wheels for controlling said locking means; laterally and vertically movable means adapted to engage said levers to move them into locking means releasing position and to carry the highway wheels; pressure medium operated pistons operatively connected with said last mentioned means whereby said means may be moved laterally to engage said levers, release the'highway wheels and convey them laterally out of operative. relation with the track wheelsand then move them vertically above the plane of the track wheels.-

9. A highway-rail vehicle comprising rail running wheels provided with extended hubs on their outer sides; highway wheels provided with hubs adapted to slide onto said extendedhubs; spring controlled radially movable elements mounted on the highway wheels for effecting locking engagement with. the extended hubs; pivoted levers carried by the highway wheels and operatively associated with said elements whereby the latter may be moved out of locking engagement with the hubs of the rail wheels; highway wheel carrier'means i involving levers adapted to eflect holding engagement with said pivoted levers and to actuate the latter into spring elements releasing position; and pressure medium operated pistons operatively connectedwith the carrier means, certain of the pistons causing the carrier means to move laterally while the other pistons cause the carrier to move vertically into and out of axial alignment with the rail running wheels.

10. In a vehicle of the character described, provided with axles; rail wheels secured on the axles; highway wheels adapted to be disposed adjacent to the rail wheels; means whereby the highway wheels are automatically locked adjacent to the rail wheels and in operative position; means adapted to release said first means, efiect hold- 'ing relation therewith and thereby carry the ated pistons whereby said first highway wheels; pressure medium operated pistons whereby the last mentioned means may be moved vertically into and out of axial alignment with the rail wheels; and pressure medium opermoved laterally and the highway wheels carried to and away from the rail wheels.

11. In a vehicle of the character described including a flanged rail wheel fixedly secured to a journal; a highway wheel adapted to he slid into 10 concentric relation with the journal; "means for effecting interengaging relation between the two wheels; means carried by the highway wheel for automatically locking said wheel in place; power actuated means mounted on the side of the ve- 15 hicle to move vertically and laterally and provided with a contractible portion adapted to engage said first means to move same out of locking condition and to carry said highway wheel out of operative position.

12. In a vehicle of the character described including a flanged rail wheel fixedly secured to a journal; a highway wheel adapted to be slid into concentric relation with the hub of the rail wheel and to efiect driving relation therewith; means 25 carried by the highway wheel for automatically locking said wheel in place and involving laterally disposed pivoted levers; power actuated means mounted on the side of the vehicle to move vertically and laterally and involving a contractible 30 portion adapted to engage said pivoted levers and move the first mentioned means out of locking condition and to carry the highway wheel laterally and then vertically; a dummy hub fixedly secured to the vehicle side adapted to receive the 35 highway wheel from said contractible portion, said dummy hub having surfaces with which the locking means on the highway wheel automatically engage for locking said wheel in inoperative position.

wheels permanently mounted on the ends of a journal and having laterally extended hubs provided with annular grooves; highway wheels adapted to be disposed adjacent the rail wheels, 5

the highway wheels having hubs adapted to fit onto the hubs of the rail wheels; spring controlled radially movable pins carried by the highway wheels and adapted to engage the grooves in the rail wheel hubs and thereby lock the highway wheels on the hubs of the rail wheels; interengaging surfaces on the hubs of the two wheels whereby a power transmitting relation between the rail and highway wheels is effected when the latter wheelsare locked in said position; power operated means mounted on the side of the vehicle and adapted to engage with and to release said spring-controlled pins and to carry the highway wheels laterally and thence upwardly into and out of operative relation with the rail wheels.-

14. In a vehicle of the character described, rail wheels provided with extended hubs having annular grooves, highway wheels having hubs adapted to slide onto said hub extensions; ra-

means arranged on the sides of the vehicle adapted to move said first means radially outward from pistons may be 5 40 13. In a vehicle of the character described, rail the grooves the; extended hubs of the rail wheels and to eflect holding relation with the hubs of the highway wheels, said means being adapted to move laterally and thereby slide thehighway wheels oil the hubextensions out of operative position and then move vertically upward adjacent the side of the vehicle.

15. In a vehicle of the character described provided with axles; rail wheels secured on the axles; highway wheels adapted to be disposed adjacent the rail wheels; means whereby thehighway wheels are automatically locked in operative relation with the rail wheels; laterally and vertically movable means comprising a portion adapted -to release said first means and effeet locking engagement therewith and a sec-* end portion adapted to efiect'holding engagement with the hubs of the highway wheels; pressure medium operated means mounted on the side 01 the vehicle and operatively connected with said last mentioned means whereby the latter with the highway wheels may be moved I laterally and thence vertically adjacent the side of the vehicle.

16. In a vehicle of the character described provided with axles;-rail wheels secin'ed on the axles; highway wheels adapted to move into co-axial relation with therail wheels and to be driven by said wheels; automatic means mount ed in th'e hubs of the highway wheels for lock- 'ing the highway wheels to the rail wheels; gear elements on the hubs of the rail'wheels andthe hubsof the highway wheels'adapted to mesh laterally to effect a driving relationbetween said wheels; and pressure mediumoperated means v whereby the automatic means is moved into highway wheel releasing position, the highway wheels dissociated from thelrail wheels and moved up wardly against the sides oi the vehicle.

' JOHN HUGH 20 

